A new Bishop for the Diocese of Austin, Texas

 

Pope Leo XIV names California bishop as new bishop of Austin, Texas

OSV News 

Bishop Daniel E. Garcia of Monterey, Calif., speaks during a Nov. 16, 2022, session of the fall general assembly of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Baltimore. On July 2, 2025, Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop Garcia as the bishop of Austin, Texas. (OSV News photo/Bob Roller)

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Daniel E. Garcia of Monterey, California, as the bishop of Austin, Texas.

The appointment was publicized in Washington July 2 by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the U.S.

Earlier this year, on Jan. 20, Bishop Joe S. Vásquez, who was serving as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Austin since March 8, 2010, was named by Pope Francis as archbishop of Galveston-Houston, where he was installed on March 25.

Bishop Garcia was born Aug. 30, 1960, and grew up in Waco and Cameron, Texas. He is bilingual in English and Spanish and has three younger sisters. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Austin on May 28, 1988.

He earned arts degrees from Tyler Junior College in 1982 and University of St. Thomas in Houston in 1984, while attending St. Mary Seminary. He went on to receive a master of divinity in 1988, earning a master of arts in liturgical studies from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota.

According to the diocesan website, throughout his ministry, Bishop Garcia served in numerous parishes and leadership roles. His first assignments were as associate pastor at St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Cristo Rey Parish, and St. Louis King of France Parish, all in Austin.

In the mid-1990s he served in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston at St. Mary Magdalene Parish in Humble and was named the founding pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Austin, where he guided the community through its formation and multiple building projects, including the construction of a permanent church and sanctuary.

Beyond parish ministry, Bishop Garcia held several diocesan roles, including service in the vocation office, priests’ personnel board, and the presbyteral council, where he also served as chair.

In 2014, he was appointed vicar general and moderator of the curia for the Diocese of Austin by now-Archbishop Vásquez. The following year, Pope Francis appointed him auxiliary bishop of Austin.

In 2018, Pope Francis named Bishop Garcia the bishop of the Diocese of Monterey.

Bishop Garcia has served on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Communications and the Committee on Divine Worship. He is also a member of the board of directors for Catholic Relief Services.

The Diocese of Austin is comprised of 21,066 square miles in the state of Texas and has a total population of nearly 3.8 million, of whom 678,545 are Catholic.

New Archbishop of Galveston-Houston installed to replace Cardinal DiNardo

 New archbishop pledges to serve Galveston-Houston Archdiocese ‘with all my heart’

written by OSV News  3 minutes ago

Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez greets women religious during his installation Mass at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston March 25, 2025, the feast of the Annunciation. He is the ninth bishop and third archbishop to head the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. (OSV News photo/Galveston-Houston Facebook page)

HOUSTON (OSV News) — The new shepherd of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston pledged March 25 to serve his new flock “with all my heart.”

“Together, we will move forward, following our Savior, who leads, protects and watches over this local church,” Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez shared in his heartfelt homily, partly delivered in Spanish, at his installation Mass on the feast of the Annunciation at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in downtown Houston.

“Mary has accompanied me in my vocation, and I trust that she will be with me throughout these years as I continue to lead you,” he said. “I also entrust myself to St. Joseph, to help me shepherd you. Pray for me, that, despite my unworthiness, I may be faithful to the great trust that has been handed on to me.”

‘Christ’s Loving Presence’

He added, “Pray that I may become like Jesus Christ, the good shepherd and great high priest, the teacher and servant of all, and so become more and more a sign of Christ’s loving presence among you.”

Thousands of the faithful from Texas and beyond gathered for the Mass. The congregation included three cardinals, numerous bishops, hundreds of priests and other clergy, men and women religious, and laity.

Under the depiction of the Holy Spirit in the co-cathedral’s soaring dome, Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio, witnessed Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo hand over the crozier to Archbishop Vásquez, who, seated upon his cathedra, assumed his role as  Galveston-Houston’s ninth bishop and third archbishop. 

Archbishop Vásquez, 67, succeeds Cardinal DiNardo, 75, who headed the Texas archdiocese from 2006 until the pope accepted his resignation Jan. 20 and named then-Bishop Vásquez of Austin as his successor.

Episcopal Motto ‘Sigueme’

Of Mexican American descent, the archbishop is one of 26 active Hispanic Catholic bishops in the U.S. His episcopal motto is “Sigueme,” Spanish for “Follow me,” in reference to Jesus’ words to Peter in the Gospel of St. John.

In a message posted on the archdiocesan website the day of his installation, Archbishop Vásquez said he was “profoundly grateful” Pope Francis for appointing him as the next Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, reaffirming his “fidelity” to the pontiff.

He also expressed deep appreciation to his predecessors, Cardinal DiNardo and the late Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza, who ordained him as a priest for the Diocese of San Angelo in 1984 and as an auxiliary bishop for Galveston-Houston in 2001. “He was truly a spiritual father to me and continues to be a source of inspiration,” he said.

He called Cardinal DiNardo “a true shepherd” who has provided “this local church with wise leadership and excellent service. … I hold him in the highest esteem and will depend on his counsel to help me serve the people of this vibrant and growing Church.”

Growing in ‘Faith and Love’

“I look forward to working with the many dedicated priests, deacons, consecrated men and women and lay faithful in this Archdiocese,” he continued. “You are a church rich in diversity, goodness and generosity, and I look forward to meeting with you and listening to you as together we grow in our faith and love for Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

He thanked the people of the Austin Diocese “for the prayers, love and support they have shown in allowing me to serve there for nearly 15 years. I will always have them in my heart.” Pope Benedict appointed him Austin’s fifth bishop Jan. 26, 2010.

Archbishop Vásquez remarked that he is “humbled” to serve the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and entrusted himself “to the tender embrace of Our Lady of Guadalupe and to the compassionate protection of St. Joseph,” a sentiment he echoed in his homily.

He said he would serve “the needs of this local church to the best of my ability.” “Your love and your prayers are greatly needed and appreciated,” he added.

Bishop of Austin concerned about new immigration enforcement

 Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Austin Urges Compassion Amid Texas ICE Raids

The Diocese of Austin oversees Central Texas, including Waco

WACO, Texas (KWTX) - Bishop Joe S. Vásquez, fifth bishop of the Diocese of Austin, home to more than 700,000 Catholics across 25 counties in Central Texas, is speaking out in defense of the dignity of humanity, urging caution in immigration enforcement.

According to a Texas Tribune report, federal agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, conducted coordinated immigration enforcement operations on Sunday in Austin and San Antonio.

A similar operation occurred in the Rio Grande Valley.

“We understand that ICE has been instructed to focus on the deportation of individuals who pose a security risk to the United States. This includes those who are currently incarcerated or are otherwise involved in criminal activities that threaten public safety. At the same time, it is painful to see migrants, seeking refuge to raise their children in a safe environment, distressed with anxiety because of the news and information they hear,” Bishop Vásquez stated.

An ICE spokesperson described these assignments as “enhanced targeted operations” aimed at enforcing U.S. immigration law, ensuring public safety, and preventing potentially dangerous individuals from remaining in communities.

The operations occurred just days after President Trump’s second term began, accompanied by the announcement of mass deportations and several immigration-related executive orders.

These operations are part of a broader crackdown that has led to fear and uncertainty among migrant communities, especially in Texas, which is home to about 1.6 million undocumented people, according to a Pew Research Center Report.

“We call all to exercise caution so that hardworking migrant mothers and fathers are not wrongfully caught up in enforcement efforts. We must never treat people as political pawns, but rather, as human beings deserving of our compassion and care,” Bishop Vásquez said.

Copyright 2025 KWTX. All rights reserved.

Cardinal DiNardo resigns; Pope appoints new leader for Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

 

Pope Francis Appoints Bishop Joe Vásquez to Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

The Austin shepherd will succeed Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, who submitted his resignation to the Holy Father in May.

Bishop Joe Vasquez of the Diocese of Austin (l) celebrates Mass in the Mountain View Unit prison in Gatesville, Texas, which houses the state's female death row, on Dec. 1, 2023. At right is Deacon Ronnie Lastovica. (photo: Courtesy / Catholic Prison Ministries Coalition/TDCJ Communications)

Hannah Brockhaus/CNANationJanuary 20, 2025

In an important move for the Catholic Church in Texas on Monday, Pope Francis named Austin Bishop Joe Vásquez to replace 75-year-old Cardinal Daniel DiNardo as head of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.

Cardinal DiNardo, who was made a cardinal in 2007 and who led the U.S. bishops’ conference as president from 2016-2019, turned 75 — the standard retirement age for Catholic bishops — in May of 2024.

The 67-year-old Bishop Vásquez is returning to the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, where he served as an auxiliary bishop from 2002-2010. The bishop is coming back to the archdiocese almost exactly 15 years after moving 160 miles to the northwest to lead the Diocese of Austin.

The Mexican-American bishop also served as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Tyler from November 2023 to December 2024, after Pope Francis removed Bishop Joseph Strickland. 

The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston serves 1.7 million Catholics in 146 parishes across 10 counties in southeastern Texas. Houston is the fourth-largest city in the U.S.

According to the archdiocese, the local Church is multicultural, with members coming from every continent. Liturgies are held in 14 different languages.

Archbishop-designate Vásquez, whose seminary education included five years in Rome studying at the Pontifical Gregorian University, was ordained a priest for the Diocese of San Angelo in 1984.

He grew up the oldest of six children in the small town of Stamford, in west-central Texas.

The new archbishop served as a consultant to the U.S. bishops’ conference committee on pro-life activities and as lead bishop for Region X for the V National Encounter for Hispanic/Latino Ministry (V Encuentro).

Former Texas and Louisiana Priest is indicted; a most troubling case

 

Catholic Priest Is Indicted on Sexual Assault Charges

Father Anthony Odiong was arrested in July after the police found him with child pornography while investigating a sexual assault claim, according to the Waco Police Department.

St. Peter Catholic Student Center in Waco, Texas, was one of the churches where Father Anthony Odiong served as a priest, from 2007 to 2012.Credit...Google Maps

By Sara Ruberg

A Catholic priest was indicted in Texas on felony sexual assault charges after several victims accused him of sexual and financial abuse, according to court documents and investigators.

The priest, Father Anthony Odiong, was indicted on Thursday by a grand jury in McLennan County, Texas, on two counts of second-degree sexual assault and one count of first-degree sexual assault.

He was arrested in July in Ave Maria, Fla., when investigators found him in possession of child pornography while looking into sexual assault claims reported to the police, according to a Facebook post from the Waco Police Department. He was not indicted on possession of child pornography, but could be in the future, Detective Bradley DeLange said.

The police had been investigating Father Odiong for months because they had received “credible information” alleging he committed a sexual assault in 2012, according to the police. During the investigation, Detective DeLange said, the police found several women with similar stories of abuse as the original victim who had come forward. Detective DeLange discovered at least eight women who claim that the priest groped, sexually assaulted or financially abused them, including one woman who sought Father Odiong’s counsel over her marriage troubles.

Under Texas law, it is considered sexual assault if members of the clergy engages in sexual activity with individuals who depend on them emotionally as a “spiritual advisers.”

Father Odiong served as a priest at St. Peter Catholic Student Center in Waco, Texas, and at St. Mary’s Church of the Assumption in West, Texas, from 2007 to 2012, according to the police, and he also served in Luling, La., from around 2015 to 2023.

Father Odiong was brought to McLennan County Jail on Aug. 6 and is being held on a $2.5 million bond, according to jail documents. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted on the second-degree sexual assault charges and could get life in prison for his first-degree felony charge, according to Christopher King, a lawyer representing several people in a separate civil case against the priest.

Father Odiong’s legal representation did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Guardian reported in February on the allegations, which Father Odiong denied in April in a Facebook post that call them a “false, salacious and one-sided smear campaign.”

Archbishop Gregory Aymond led the Diocese of Austin, Texas, during the beginning of Father Odiong’s time as a priest at that diocese, and he now leads the Archdiocese of New Orleans, where Father Odiong served in recent years. Bishop Joe S. Vásquez, the current leader of the Diocese of Austin, said in a statement in July that the diocese would fully cooperate with law enforcement.

Sarah McDonald, a spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, said on Sunday that Father Odiong had served there at the request of the Diocese of Uyo in Nigeria.

“When the archdiocese became aware of allegations of criminal activity we reported him to law enforcement and removed him from ministry,” Ms. McDonald said in a text.

In 2020, the Archdiocese of New Orleans joined over a dozen Catholic organizations in filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection amid sexual abuse claims against its priests and church employees. Fifteen Catholic organizations were seeking bankruptcy protection as of June, according to a Penn State Law database.

This summer a grand jury in Williamson County, Tenn., indicted a priest, Juan Carlos Garcia-Mendoza, on several counts of sexual battery, child abuse and other related crimes, according to an Instagram post from the city of Franklin, Tenn. Last year, a Louisiana grand jury indicted a retired priest, Lawrence Hecker, who was charged in relation to claims that he sexually assaulted a teenage boy in the 1970s.

The generous response of the Catholic Church in West, Texas

Catholic community helps in wake of Texas explosion

2013-04-18 Vatican Radio
(Vatican Radio) Rescuers in central Texas are still searching the wreckage after an explosion Wednesday night at a fertilizer plant killed as many as 15 people, and injured more than 160 others. The blast destroyed over 50 homes and an apartment complex, and also damaged a school and a nursing home in the small town of West. A group of volunteer firefighters and a police officer are believed to be among the dead. They had responded to the initial fire call an hour before the explosion.
The town is home to less than 3,000 people, and the disaster is affecting everyone.
“It’s brought everybody together,” said Father Ed Karasek, the pastor of St. Mary’s Assumption Catholic Parish in West. “It’s a very close-knit community. Everbody is related to each other, and they are all supporting each other.”
The Bishop of Austin, Joe Vásquez, said the Catholic Church has been helping since the disaster struck.
“First of all, the priests in that area have reached out to people,” he said. He mentioned many of the injured have been taken to Catholic hospitals in nearby Waco and Temple, where the local clergy have been on call.
“Of course, our Catholic Charities will take a lead role in this as we try to reach out to those who are suffering and hurting and need support and need help,” Bishop Vásquez told Vatican Radio. “It’s going to be monetarily; it’s going to be through prayers; it’s going to be through material goods…that people are going to need.”
The Bishop said the explosion is devastating for the people of West.
“It’s going to have a profound effect on them. People’s lives have been changed,” he said. They have experienced tremendous loss…not only those who have lost loved ones, but those who have lost homes…[and] so many other things. Just the sense of stability and wanting to have a stable life and security. All of those things are going to impact the people of that community.”
He said is confident the community will pull together in the wake of the disaster.
“My expectation is - and I think it’s been already demonstrated - is that people have gone out of their way to support each other,” Bishop Vásquez said. “That’s not just the Church community, but I think the whole community in general has reached out to want to be there for one another especially in this time of tragedy and sadness.”
Father Karasek has served the community of West for over 20 years. He told Vatican Radio what he thinks the people need most right now.
“I think a lot of prayers,” he said. “And if they wanted to make donations, we will see they get to the families who are in need of them.”